An augmented–depleted framework of AI awareness: Concept expansion and scale development

Abstract

Although research on employee AI awareness is gradually increasing, existing work lacks valid conceptualization and measurement scales. Scholars mostly interpret this concept from the perspective of job insecurity and stress, and there is no consensus on the consequences of AI awareness. This study employs two separate investigations to construct an augmented–depleted framework for AI awareness and examines the influence of AI awareness on employee outcomes. Study 1 developed four dimensions of AI awareness (replaced AI-augmented, assisted AI-augmented, replaced AI-depleted, and threatened AI-depleted) with a 16-item scale through a five-stage process: dimension identification, item generation, assessment of content validity, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Study 2 verified the influence of AI awareness on employee cognitional, emotional, and behavioral outcomes through a time-lagged survey of 297 superior–subordinate matching pairs. This study expands the view of AI awareness, develops a new measurement scale, and provides foundations for further research.